Back plate assemblies for home hardware

ABSTRACT

A back plate assembly for home hardware is provided with a base and an attachment. The base includes at least one mount aperture and is adapted to be mounted to a support surface. The base defines a receptacle, a through-hole, a pair of grooves disposed at an outer edge of the through-hole, and a pair of ledges offset from an inner edge of the through-hole. The attachment includes a lock member with a pair of lock features and a connector member sized for insertion between the pair of ledges when the attachment is oriented in a first radial position. Each of the pair of lock features is positioned on the attachment for insertion within one of the grooves and the connector member is sized to rest upon the ledges when the connector member extends through the through-hole and the attachment is rotated to a second radial position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/379,141filed Apr. 9, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,690,286 B2, which is a divisionof U.S. application Ser. No. 15/835,862 filed Dec. 8, 2017, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,302,247, which is a division of U.S. application Ser. No.15/281,546 filed Sep. 30, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,869,424, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety byreference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments relate to back plate assemblies for home hardware.

BACKGROUND

Existing home hardware back plate assemblies typically include anattachment and base for mounting to a surface. Examples of attachmentsinclude a hook, shower rod, and toilet paper roll holder. The back plateassemblies may require complex tool designs with several moving partswhich may increase wear on the tools and potentially reduce tool life.These assemblies may also include covers with large surface areas andprofiles which may require additional shelf space in a retailenvironment.

SUMMARY

According to at least one embodiment, a twist-lock back plate assemblyfor home hardware is provided with a base and an attachment. The baseincludes at least one mount aperture and is adapted to be mounted to asupport surface. The base defines a receptacle, a through-hole, a pairof grooves disposed at an outer edge of the through-hole, and a pair ofledges offset from an inner edge of the through-hole. The attachmentincludes a lock member with a pair of lock features and a connectormember sized for insertion between the pair of ledges when theattachment is oriented in a first radial position. Each of the pair oflock features is positioned on the attachment for insertion within oneof the grooves and the connector member is sized to rest upon the ledgeswhen the connector member extends through the through-hole and theattachment is rotated to a second radial position. The connector membermay be spaced from the lock member a distance sufficient for adecorative cover to be mounted therebetween. The assembly may include adecorative cover sized for disposal between the base and attachment andto conceal the base. The attachment may further include one of a hook, atelescoping shower rod, a towel bar post, a towel ring post, and atoilet paper holder post. The through-hole may be sized for rotation ofthe lock member and lock features until each of the lock features sitswithin one of the pair of grooves. Each of the grooves and each of thelock features may define a taper to permit annular deformation of thebase when the attachment is mounted to the base and a force is appliedto the attachment. The ledges and attachment may be arranged with oneanother such that the attachment is prevented from moving in a directionaway from the support surface when the attachment is oriented in thesecond radial position.

According to at least another embodiment, a slide-lock back plateassembly for home hardware is provided with an attachment and a base.The attachment includes a connector with first and second intersectingmembers. The base defines an attachment opening sized to receive thefirst intersecting member, at least one mount aperture, and a pair ofarms adjacent the attachment opening and spaced from one another toreceive the second intersecting member therebetween. The base is adaptedto be mounted to a support surface. An upper portion of the connector issized for insertion of the first intersecting member within theattachment opening, then lateral translation such that the secondintersecting member is secured between the arms. The base may furtherdefine a pair of flexible tabs each extending from one of the pair ofarms and each including a lip sized to partially overlap a portion ofthe connector. Each of the pair of flexible tabs may be arranged withthe arms to receive a portion of a force applied to the attachment whenthe attachment is mated to the base. A cover plate may be integratedwith the attachment as a single component to conceal the attachmentopening and the at least one mount aperture. The base may includeindicia indicative of a base orientation for mounting the base to asurface. The attachment may further include one of a hook, a telescopingshower rod, a towel bar post, a towel ring post, and a toilet paperholder post. The connector may be T-shaped.

According to at least another embodiment, a wedge-lock back plateassembly for home hardware is provided with a base, an attachment, and arod. The base defines a first mount aperture, an opening, and a pair offorks each disposed on one side of the opening. The base is adapted tomount to a support surface. The attachment includes a transition portionand a connector with first and second intersecting members defining anengagement groove. The rod is for securing within each of the pair offorks and arranged with the opening for positioning within theengagement groove when the connector extends through the opening suchthat a portion of a force applied to the attachment is transferred tothe rod. The forks may be oriented upon the base to face the supportsurface. The assembly may include a cover plate sized for disposalbetween the transition portion and an outer surface of the base toconceal the base. The base may further include indicia indicative of abase orientation for mounting the base to the support surface. The rodmay be arranged with the base such that a user experiences a tactilefeedback when the engagement groove receives the rod. The attachment mayfurther include one of a hook, a towel bar mount, a telescoping showerrod, a portion of a dual mount towel bar assembly, a towel bar post, atowel ring post, and a toilet paper holder post.

According to at least another embodiment, a back plate assembly for homehardware is provided with an attachment and a bracket. The attachmentincludes a first member, a second member, and a support member. Thebracket defines at least one mount aperture and includes an upper flangedefining a first opening, a lower flange defining a second opening, anda pair of side flanges. The first member is sized for insertion withinthe first opening and the second member is sized for insertion withinthe second opening such that the support member rests upon the pair ofside flanges to transfer a load applied to the attachment to the sideflanges. The bracket may be made of a stamped steel or spring steel. Thefirst opening may be spaced from a wall end of the upper flange toprovide space for disposal of a cover between the attachment and bracketto conceal the bracket. Each of the pair of side flanges may define anarcuate shape. The mount aperture may be defined by the bracket at alocation above the upper flange. The first opening and the secondopening may be arranged with one another such that the attachment restsagainst a surface of the bracket defining the mount aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an example of a back plate assembly forhome hardware according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a portion of the back plate assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another rear view of a portion of the back plate assembly ofFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a side view, in cross-section, of a portion of the back plateassembly of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a base of the back plate assembly of FIG. 1with a portion of an attachment shown in partial cross-section;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a base of the back plate assembly of FIG. 1with a portion of an attachment shown in partial cross-section;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of an example of a back plateassembly for home hardware according to another embodiment showing twocomponents separated from one another;

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the example of the back plateassembly of FIG. 8 ;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the example of the back plateassembly of FIG. 7 showing the two components mated with one another;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, in cross-section, of the example of theback plate assembly of FIG. 7 showing the two components mated with oneanother;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of an example of a back plateassembly for home hardware according to another embodiment showing threecomponents separated from one another;

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of two of the components of the backplate assembly of FIG. 11 ;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view, in cross-section, of the example of theback plate assembly of FIG. 11 showing two of the components mated withone another;

FIG. 14 is a side view of an example of a back plate assembly for homehardware according to another embodiment showing three components matedwith one another;

FIG. 15 is a front view, in cross-section, of a portion of the backplate assembly of FIG. 14 ;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an example of a bracket of the backplate assembly of FIG. 14 ;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another example of a bracket of theback plate assembly of FIG. 14 ; and

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another example of a bracket of theback plate assembly of FIG. 14 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in variousand alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; somefeatures may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particularcomponents. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a back plate assembly, referred to generallyas a back plate assembly 50 herein. The back plate assembly 50 mayimplement a twist-lock design and include a base 52, an attachment 54,and a cover 55 and may be used, for example, to support home hardware invarious portions of a home. The base 52 may be made of an engineeredpolymer suited for snap-fit features while having characteristics tosustain load concentrations. The attachment 54 may include a flared end57. In this example the attachment 54 is shown as a hook, however it iscontemplated that the attachment 54 may be various other types ofattachments, such as a telescoping shower rod, a towel bar post, a towelring post, and a toilet paper holder post. The cover 55 may be stylizedin various patterns and shapes. The cover 55 may be sized for disposalbetween the base 52 and the attachment 54 such that the base 52 isconcealed. It is contemplated that the cover 55 may be integrated as onecomponent with the attachment 54 or the base 52. The back plate assembly50 may be mounted to a surface, such as a wall.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show further detail of the base 52 from a rear view. Thebase 52 may define a pair of mount apertures 58. The mount apertures 58may be sized to receive a fastener, such as a screw, for mounting thebase 52 to a surface. The base 52 includes a cup portion 62 defining apair of ledges 64 and a through-hole 65. The cup portion 62 may also bereferred to as a receptacle herein. The ledges 64 may be offset from aninner edge of the through-hole 65. The cup portion 62 and the ledges 64define an opening 66 sized to receive a portion of the attachment 54 toassist in securing the attachment 54 to the base 52. For example, theattachment 54 may include a connector member 70, a shaft 72, and a lockmember 74. The opening 66 of the base 52 may be sized to receive theconnector member 70 of the attachment 54. The connector member 70 may bespaced from the lock member 74 such that the attachment 54 may engagewith the base 52 following insertion and rotation of the attachment 54.For example, FIG. 2 shows the connect member 70 inserted within theopening 66. In this position, the attachment 54 is oriented in ahorizontal configuration. FIG. 3 shows the connect member 70 rotatedfrom the orientation in FIG. 2 such that the connect member 70 restsupon the ledges 64. In this position, the attachment 54 is oriented inan upright position. The ledges 64 prevent the attachment 54 from movingin a direction away from the mounting surface when the attachment 54 isoriented in the upright position.

FIG. 4 shows a side view, in cross-section, of the attachment 54 mountedto the base 52 and oriented in the upright position. A force applied tothe attachment 54, such as a force represented by force arrow 75, isdisbursed to the base 52 via cantilevered principles. For example, theledges 64 may assist in receiving the force represented by force arrow75 when an object is placed upon the attachment 54.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show further detail of the base 52 from a front view andinclude a partial cross-section of a portion of the attachment 54. Thecup portion 62 defines a pair of grooves 78. Each of the grooves 78 maybe shaped as a V or other suitable shape and may be disposed at an outeredge of the through-hole 65. The lock member 74 defines a pair of lockfeatures 80 each sized for disposal within one of the grooves 78. Eachof the grooves 78 and the lock members 74 may define a taper to permitannular deformation of the cup portion 62 of the base 52. To mount theback plate assembly 50 to a wall, a user may first secure the base 52 tothe wall via fasteners extending through the mount apertures 58. Thecover 55 may then be positioned upon the base 52. The user may thenalign the attachment 54 in the horizontal configuration to insert theconnector member 70 into the opening 66. The user may then rotate theattachment 54 such that each of the lock features 80 sit snugly withinthe respective groove 78 and such that the connector member 70 isretained via the ledges 64.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another example of a back plate assembly, referred togenerally as a back plate assembly 200 herein. The back plate assembly200 may implement a slide-lock design and include an attachment 204 anda base 208 and may be used, for example, to support home hardware invarious portions of a home. In this example the attachment 204 is shownas a hook, however it is contemplated that the attachment 204 may bevarious other types of attachments, such as a telescoping shower rod, aportion of a dual mount towel bar assembly, a towel bar post, a towelring post, and a toilet paper holder post. The attachment 204 includes acover 210 and a connector member 212. The cover 210 may be stylized invarious different shapes and patterns. The connector member 212 maydefine a T-shape including ends 218. The connector member 212 mayinclude intersecting members.

The base 208 may define an opening 224 and a pair of mount apertures226. The opening 224 may be sized to receive the connector member 212.Each of the mount apertures 226 may be sized to receive a fastener, suchas a screw, to assist in securing the base 208 to a surface, such as awall. The base 208 may include features to assist in mounting theattachment 204 thereto.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show further detail of the back plate assembly 200 inwhich the attachment 204 is shown mounted to the base 208. The base 208may include a pair of flexible tabs 230 and a pair of arms 234. Each ofthe pair of tabs 230 and the pair of arms 234 may be arranged with thebase 208 to assist in grasping the connector member 212 to secure theattachment 204 to the base 208. For example, each of the ends 218 of theconnector member 212 may be sized to fit within an upper portion of theopening 224. The connector member 212 may then slide downward such thata lip 240 on each of the pair of tabs 230 partially overlaps the ends218 of the connector member 212 to secure the connector member 212 inposition. In another example, Each of the pair of tabs 230 may notinclude the lip 240 partially overlapping the ends 218. The arms 234 maybe spaced from one another to receive a lower portion of the connectormember 212. As such, the pair of arms 234 and the pair of tabs 230 mayassist in receiving a force applied to the attachment 204, such as whenan item is placed thereupon.

Optionally, each of the pair of tabs 230 may also be of a material withflexible characteristics to flex when the ends 218 of the connectormember 212 press there against to further assist in securing theattachment 204 to the base 208. The base 208 may include indicia, suchas indicia 242, to assist in orienting the base 208 relative to a mountsurface.

FIGS. 11 through 13 show another example of a back plate assembly,referred to generally as a back plate assembly 300 herein. The backplate assembly 300 may implement a wedge-lock design and include anattachment 302, a cover plate 304, and a base 306 and may be used, forexample, to support home hardware in various portions of a home. In thisexample the attachment 302 is shown as a hook, however it iscontemplated that the attachment 302 may be various other types ofattachments, such as a telescoping shower rod, a portion of a dual mounttowel bar assembly, a towel bar post, a towel ring post, and a toiletpaper holder post. The cover plate 304 may be stylized in variouspatterns and shapes. It is contemplated that the cover plate 304 may beintegrated as one component with the attachment 302 or the base 306. Theback plate assembly 300 may be mounted to a surface, such as a wall.

The attachment 302 includes a transition portion 310 and a connectormember 312. The connector member 312 may define a T-shape, an engagementgroove 316, and ends 318. The connector member 312 is spaced from thetransition portion 310 to accommodate positioning of the cover plate 304between the attachment 302 and the base 306.

The base 306 defines a first receiving aperture 330 and a secondreceiving aperture 332. The first receiving aperture 330 and the secondreceiving aperture 332 are sized to receive fasteners to assist inmounting the base 306 to a surface. The second receiving aperture 332may define an oval shape to provide additional clearance for a fastenerto allow an installer to rotatably adjust the base 306 using the firstreceiving aperture 330 as a center of rotation to facilitate alignmentof the attachment 302 to a desired vertical position. The base 306defines an opening 340 sized to receive the connector member 312 and apair of forks 344 sized to receive a rod 348. For example, ends of eachof the pair of forks 344 may be sized such that the rod 348 may besecured therein. Each of the pair of forks 344 may be oriented upon thebase 306 to face a mount surface. The rod 348 may be, for example, aspring wire.

The base 306 may include portions 350 adjacent the opening 340. Theportions 350 may be sized to orient the connector member 312 such thatthe engagement groove 316 aligns with the rod 348. For example, theportions 350 may be spaced from an upper edge of the opening 340 suchthat the connector member 312 may be inserted into the opening 340 andthen moved downward for the engagement groove 316 and the rod 348 tomate with one another for securing the attachment 302 to the base 306and such that the rod 348 and the portions 350 support the attachment302 when a force is applied thereto. A user may experience a tactilefeedback when mounting the attachment 302 to the base 306 due to themating of the engagement groove 316 and the rod 348. Optionally, thebase 306 may include indicia, such as indicia 354, to assist inorienting the base 306 relative to a mount surface.

FIGS. 14 through 16 show another example of a back plate assembly,referred to generally as a back plate assembly 400 herein. The backplate assembly 400 includes an attachment 402, a cover plate 406, and amount bracket 408 and may be used, for example, to support home hardwarein various portions of a home. The mount bracket 408 may be made of, forexample, stamped steel or spring steel. In this example the attachment402 is shown as a hook, however it is contemplated that the attachment402 may be various other types of attachments, such as a telescopingshower rod, a portion of a dual mount towel bar assembly, a portion of atoilet paper roll mount, and a towel ring post. The cover plate 406 maybe stylized in various patterns and shapes. It is contemplated that thecover plate 406 may be integrated as one component with the attachment402 or the mount bracket 408. The back plate assembly 400 may be mountedto a surface, such as a wall.

FIG. 15 is a front view, in cross-section of a portion of the back plateassembly 400. A base portion of the attachment 402 may include a firstmember 412 and a second member 414. The mount bracket 408 may define apair of fastener apertures 420 each sized to receive a fastener toassist in securing the mount bracket 408 to a surface. The mount bracket408 may include a plurality of flanges. For example, the mount bracket408 may include a first flange 424, a second flange 426, and a pair ofsupport flanges 428. The first flange 424 may define a first opening 432and the second flange 426 may define a second opening 434.

The first opening 432 may be sized to receive the first member 412 andthe second opening 434 may be sized to receive the second member 414.The first member 412 may be inserted within the first opening 432 andthen the attachment 402 may slide downward for the second member 414 tobe inserted within the second opening and such that a support member 440of the attachment 402 rests upon the pair of support flanges 428. Thearrangement between the support member 440 and the pair of supportflanges 428 is such that the pair of support flanges 428 may assist inreceiving a force applied to the attachment 402. The first opening 432and the second opening 434 may be arranged on the bracket 408 to providespace for disposal of the cover plate 406 between the attachment 402 andthe bracket 408.

It is contemplated that the bracket 408 may have alternativeconfigurations. For example, FIGS. 17 and 18 show additional examples ofa bracket for the back plate assembly 400. FIG. 17 shows a bracket 450including side flanges 452 having an arcuate shape. FIG. 18 shows amount bracket 460 having a receiving aperture 462 disposed above andbelow a first flange 468 and a second flange 470. Each of the flangesdefines an opening 474 located on the mount bracket 460 such that a baseportion of an attachment may rest against a surface of the mount bracket460 defining the receiving apertures 462.

Each of the back plate assemblies described above may provide arelatively low profile design to mount a home hardware product to asurface. These low profiles may provide options for lower profiledecorative covers while removing structural support requirements for thedecorative cover. As such, the decorative covers may be made fromultra-thin die cast, stamped metal, or injection molded plastic whichmay provide lower cost options and simplify manufacturing processesassociated therewith. Further, each of the embodiments described abovemay utilize a cantilever principal in which the attachments aresupported by at least two points of contact with the base.

While various embodiments are described above, it is not intended thatthese embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather,the words used in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may becombined to form further embodiments of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A back plate assembly for home hardwarecomprising: an attachment with a first member, a second member, and asupport member; a bracket formed from spring steel with an upper flangedefining a first opening, a lower flange defining a second opening, anda pair of side flanges, the bracket defining at least one mountaperture; wherein the mount aperture is formed in the bracket at alocation above the upper flange; wherein the first member is sized forinsertion within the first opening and the second member is sized forinsertion within the second opening such that the support member restsupon the pair of side flanges to transfer a load applied to theattachment to the pair of side flanges; wherein the first opening isspaced from a wall end of the upper flange to provide space for disposalof a cover plate between the attachment and the bracket; and the coverplate disposed between the attachment and the bracket to conceal thebracket, wherein the cover plate is integrated as a unitary componentwith the attachment.
 2. The back plate assembly of claim 1 wherein eachof the pair of side flanges define an arcuate shape.
 3. The back plateassembly of claim 1 wherein the first opening and the second opening arearranged with one another such that the attachment or cover plate restsagainst the bracket.
 4. A back plate assembly for home hardwarecomprising: an attachment with a first member, a second member, and asupport member; a bracket with an upper flange defining a first opening,a lower flange defining a second opening, and a pair of side flanges,the bracket defining at least one mount aperture; wherein the firstmember is sized for insertion within the first opening and the secondmember is sized for insertion within the second opening such that thesupport member rests upon the pair of side flanges to transfer a loadapplied to the attachment to the pair of side flanges; wherein the firstopening is spaced from a wall end of the upper flange to provide spacefor disposal of a cover plate between the attachment and the bracket;the cover plate disposed between the attachment and the bracket toconceal the bracket; wherein the first opening and the second openingare arranged with one another such that the attachment or cover platerests against the bracket; wherein the mount aperture is formed in thebracket at a location above the upper flange; and wherein the bracket isformed from spring steel.
 5. The back plate assembly of claim 4 whereineach of the pair of side flanges define an arcuate shape.
 6. A methodfor installing the back plate assembly of claim 1 comprising: fasteningthe bracket to a wall; positioning the cover plate upon the bracket;inserting the first member of the attachment into the first opening;sliding the attachment upward for clearance of the second member of theattachment between the upper flange and the lower flange; pivoting theattachment to align the second member with the second opening; andinserting the second member into the second opening.